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FL State Board of Ed approves controversial civics test for college grads; critics call it dumbed down
The State Board of Education unanimously approved a new rule that allows Florida community colleges to accept a new and controversial test to fulfill the civic literacy requirement to graduate. Kathryn Hebda, Florida College System Chancellor at the Department of Education, assured the board that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Test – Civics […]
Is the FL State Board of Education dumbing down college civics requirements?
From the principles of democracy to the history of our nation and the building blocks of government, civic literacy is important – so important that it’s a graduation requirement for first-time college students entering Florida’s public community colleges. Those kids have to “demonstrate competency” in the subject to graduate, but controversy is brewing on what […]
Dealing with “losses of learning” during the coronavirus pandemic
With thousands of students likely to fall behind in their studies during the coronavirus pandemic, former Gov. Jeb Bush Tuesday discussed ways to get kids caught up. “There needs to be a focus on using some of the money coming from the federal government to deal with the losses of learning that have taken place,” […]
FL and other states could lose teaching positions as recession looms and pandemic continues
While states across the nation are attempting to reopen and boost the economy, researchers are trying to predict the potential impacts of a looming recession due to the coronavirus pandemic. In the arena of education, a new analysis predicts just under 319,000 teaching positions could be at risk if states cut funding for education by […]
Task force members looking at “reopening” FL are touching on topics from Pre-K to occupational licenses
Gov. Ron DeSantis launched a task force to look at “reopening” Florida, and politicians and business leaders have been discussing ideas and concerns this week. More than 100 people have provided feedback. Here are some of the topics that have been discussed Friday and throughout the week: Pre-K and early learning Many early learning programs […]
FL looks at reopening state parks — under certain conditions
Several dozen Florida state parks could potentially reopen, depending on the qualities and restrictions that would keep people safe for exercising and enjoying the outdoors. The discussion came up at a state task force meeting about “reopening” Florida following the coronavirus outbreak that has changed American lives and kept people in their homes to ward […]
FL nursing students learn from ‘Virtual Clinicals,’ but will that work in real life?
Ben Reams is a second semester nursing student at Tallahassee Community College. At this point of his education, he should be visiting Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare for clinicals, where nursing students apply their in-classroom education to real-life scenarios. “We would be going to the hospital two times a week, following nurses around, getting to see how […]
Chaos, uncertainty and hope: Tales from real people in a layoff world
Roxie Smith worked as a server at Sonny’s BBQ for 14 years. She learned about her termination through a “print-out email” posted on the wall. “’Effective immediately: servers are terminated,’” she paraphrased. “And that was it. They closed the dining room. There wasn’t any need for us, so they basically laid us all off.” Her […]
Vape industry and Americans for Tax Reform urges DeSantis to veto vaping legislation
The vaping industry and a prominent conservative activist want Gov. Ron DeSantis to veto legislation passed by the Florida Legislature in response to the teen vaping epidemic. The Vapor Technology Association cited a study indicating the measure would eliminate more than 4,500 jobs for Floridians and $605 million in economic activity, in large part because […]
Teens and parents: the Florida Legislature passed vaping regulations. Here’s what to expect
In the waning days of the legislative session, lawmakers passed a bill in hopes of curtailing the current youth vaping epidemic. One big provision is that young people won’t be able to buy tobacco or nicotine products until they’re 21. The minimum age used to be 18. Vaping products, such as vape pens, attract young […]
FL lawmakers try to take on the youth nicotine crisis, but can’t agree on vaping regulations
Leading health organizations fear that a current state House bill will do very little to address the nicotine crisis of young Floridians. And a bill in the state Senate comes with its own controversies, as the Florida Legislature tries to regulate vaping products that attract young adults. From what constitutes tobacco and nicotine products to […]
Dignity for incarcerated pregnant women legislation gets closer to becoming law
Legislation demanding reform in the treatment of pregnant inmates passed unanimously in the Florida House Judiciary Committee Thursday, making way for a full vote in the state House chamber. HB 1259 is sponsored by Rep. Shevrin Jones, a Democrat who represents part of Broward County, and Rep. Amy Mercado, a Democrat who represents part of […]